His funeral will be held in the Genoa Cathedral on Wednesday afternoon.

“I owe everything to the President, especially a large part of my sporting success,” said Samp midfielder Palombo.

“Everyone will miss Garrone for his moral values. It’s difficult in football to find people like him. Unfortunately he wasn’t close to the team recently due to his illness. I am pained, it’s awful news.

“My favourite memory of him was seeing him celebrate when we finished fourth in SerieA.”

Mazzarri was one of Sampdoria’s most successful Coaches under Garrone’s reign and expressed his sadness.

“He was the driving force behind the club, but also an old-fashioned gentleman, a lovely man and someone with great charisma.

“I had a good rapport with him and there was much to learn from Garrone. I can only speak highly of him, truly. We had two great years of sporting success and often talked, but he would never interfere in my work. He always asked with great politeness for information on the team.”